Muthusamy is a real student of spin, says Paul 'Gogga' Adams after his Pakistan heroics

“Yeah, I was watching to see if he was going to get seven!”

These were the words of former Proteas wrist spinner Paul Adams, who holds the record for the most wickets taken in an innings by a South African bowler in Pakistan.

Adams, who was nicknamed Gogga throughout his career due to his eccentric action, famously bagged 7/128 against the hosts at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore back in 2003.

Twenty-two years later at the very same venue, Senuran Muthusamy came close to emulating Adams’ achievement, when the left-arm spinner scythed through Pakistan’s lower order to claim 6/117 on the second day of the first Test.

It was also Muthusamy’s maiden Test five-wicket haul in just his sixth Test. 

Adams has worked extensively with Muthusamy over the years at both Cricket SA’s National Academy and various spin camps, and is delighted to see one of the hardest grafters on the domestic circuit finally earn the recognition he deserves in international cricket.

“He's been around for a long time,” Adams told Independent Media. “He's a good lad, you know. He's quite dedicated to the art of spin in terms of understanding, knowledge. A real student of spin.

“I’ve done a lot of work with him. He's a lot quicker. He changes his pace. Sometimes bowls slow. Gets a bit of flight.

“But he's really come on nicely over the years whilst just playing more international cricket recently.”

Muthusamy made his Test debut against India back in 2019 already but has not featured regularly since due to the ever-present Keshav Maharaj - the Proteas’ most successful spinner in the history of Test cricket.

His playing opportunities were even limited domestically, having originally been based at the Dolphins, where Maharaj and fellow Proteas spinner Prenelan Subrayen also play.

Adams feels that Muthusamy’s decision to leave his Kingsmead home for initially North West before moving across to the Warriors, where he works closely with another former Proteas spinner Robin Peterson has been the turning point in his career.

“He's got an early opportunity, went on a tour to India, but he was playing second fiddle to Kesh even at the Dolphins. And they had Subs,” Adams said.

“It was a big move for him to leave Durban. He moved to North West to obviously get more overs on his belt and get that experience of playing as a front-line spinner.

“That's important for young spinners. To really get out to play. Learn to bowl, even if it's the holding overs on flat wickets and not just bowl well when the wicket is turning.”

Although Maharaj is expected to return from injury for the second Test in Rawalpindi, Adams believes Muthusamy is reaching his peak as a spinner at 31-years-old and definitely has a role to play both in Pakistan going forward and the upcoming tour of India.

“He's quite experienced. Quite nice, mature mind. Good head on him,” he said. “And he’s playing now internationally (across formats) more consistently, which is a good thing for him. 

“He’s put a nice foundation in place. So, his approach towards the international game will be a lot calmer than when he was younger.”

Meanwhile, the Proteas have made a solid start in reply to Pakistan's 378 all out , heading to the tea interval at 112/2.

Captain Aiden Markram (20) and Wiaan Mulder (17) both got starts, but fell to the wizardary of Nomad Ali (2/47) - both caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan.

Ryan Rickleton is currently unbeaten on 45 along with Tony de Zorzi on 23.

First Test, Day 2, Tea

Pakistan: 378 all out

South Africa: 112/2 (Rickleton 45, De Zorzi 23*, Nomad Ali 2/47)

South Africa trail by 266